Display carton assembly

ABSTRACT

A shipping and display carton assembly. The carton is opened to provide an open-topped display tray portion containing a pair of rows of upstanding articles. A resilient divider biases the rows of articles outwardly against the sides of the tray portion and extends upwardly to the tops of the articles to enhance the column strength of the display carton assembly.

United States Patent Graham et al.

[54] DISPLAY CARTON ASSEMBLY [72] Inventors: Stephen S. Graham, Chicago,111.

60611; Martin Baumann, Glencoe,

[I]. 60022 [73 Assignee: Said Baumann assor to said Graham [22] Filed:Aug. 21, 1970 21 App1.No.: 65,989

[52] US. Cl. ..206/44 R, 229/42 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 5/48 [58] Field ofSearch ....206/44 R, 45.16, 45.14, 65 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,263,524 11/1941 Steinbiss..206/45.14

[451 Aug. 29, 1972 2,178,091 10/1939 Weiss ..206/44 R 977,305 1 H1910Heppe ..206/45.l6 X 1,892,879 1/1933 Florea et al ..206/45. 14 X3,038,625 6/1962 Sinner et a1 ..229/15 X Primary Examiner-Leonard SummerAtt0rney-Dressler, Goldsmith, Clement & Gordon [57] ABSTRACT A shippingand display carton assembly. The carton is opened to provide anopen-topped display tray portion containing a pair of rows of upstandingarticles. A resilient divider biases the rows of articles outwardlyagainst the sides of the tray portion and extends upwardly to the topsof the articles to enhance the column strength of the display cartonassembly.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTl-Iflmces m2 N VE N TOQS Siephen 5.Graham M ari'in Ba DISPLAY CARTON ASSEMBLY This invention relates to adisplay carton assembly, and particularly to one which is adapted to bestacked in a display condition, and to one which is proportioned tomaintain rows of elongated articles in a vertical disposition.

Many articles are displayed in retail outlets, such as supermarkets, intheir shipping cartons or parts thereof. Such cartons, when adapted toproperly present the contained articles, permit their placement in areasof the store where higher sales volume may be attained than if sucharticles are removed from the shipping cartons and are placed onshelves. To permit their use in high volume areas, such cartons must bestackable in an open display condition and must maintain a reasonablyneat appearance, otherwise the articles are likely to be relegated tothe stores shelves.

In accordance with this invention a shipping and display carton havingthese and other desirable characteristics is provided. The displaycarton assembly is desirable formed directly from the shipping cartoncontaining the articles to besold, and includes means for maintaining avertical and neat disposition of the articles. The assembly furtherprovides means for assuring sufiicient column strength to stackaplurality of the opened display carton assemblies one on top of theother.

To this end, a display carton assembly of this invention may comprise arectilinear shipping carton, the upper portion of which is removable viaa tear strip. When the upper portion of the shipping carton, includingthe top and desirably a major portion of the sidewalls, back wall andfront wall, is removed, the rows of contained articles to be sold areimmediately presented in an attractively positioned manner.

A plurality of such rows are maintained in their vertical disposition bya resilient divider member positioned between each pair of such rows.Desirably the resilient divider member extends from the front to theback of the remaining carton portion and extends upwardly from thebottom of the carton body to the tops of the rows of articles. Tomaintain the vertical disposition of the rows of articles, the resilientdivider member provides a spring section in the lower regions of therows of articles, which spring section biases a pair of rows outwardlyof each other, and towards the sides of the display carton assembly.

In one embodiment of this invention, the articles to be sold arepackages each containing a plurality of bags. The packages arepositioned in two rows, one row against each of opposite sides of thedisplay carton. Between the two rows, a resilient divider member isprovided. The resilient divider member is formed of folded corrugatedpaperboard to assume a generally W-shaped configuration. The inner legsof the divider member project upwardly from the bottom of the cartonbody, but terminate well below the top of the vertically oriented rowsof bags. These legs urge the outermost legs of the divider member intoresilient contact with the adjacent edges of the packages of bags,thereby to urge them resiliently outwardly towards the sides of thecarton body. This then maintains a snug fit between the bags and thecarton sides to assist in maintaining the vertical disposition of thebag packages. Preferably the outer legs of the divider member extendupwardly to the plane of the tops of the packages. These upper edges ofthe divider member lie in a plane common with the package tops, therebyto provide a support surface having substantial column strength tostably support a next upper opened display carton assembly.

These and other advantages, objects and features of this invention willbecome apparent from the following description and drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a stack of cartons embodyingthe invention of this application;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view, partially in section, of one ofthe display cartons of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of an expandedresilient divider of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the bags contained in the packageof FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a package of a plurality of bags of FIG. 4, and one of thepackages illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the resilient divider of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a further embodiment of the resilient divider of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a stack of cartonsembodying this invention, including an unopened shipping carton 10, andtwo opened cartons 12 conditioned as display cartons. Cartons 10 areconditioned to assume the appearance and configuration of displaycartons 12 by utilizing a tear strip (not shown) incorporated in thecarton at dotted line 14. When the tear strip is utilized the upperportion of the carton 10 above dotted line 14 is removed and theopen-topped carton body or tray portion 16 remains.

Open-topped carton portion 16 comprises a flat bottom 20, a frontsection 22, a back section 24 and two side sections 26, front section22, back section 24, and side sections 26 terminating above the bottom20 in a continuous upper peripheral edge 28 which edge lies in a planegenerally parallel to flat bottom 20.

Display cartons 12 further comprises at least one pair of side-by-siderows 30 of packages P. Only two rows 30 have been illustrated. Three ormore rows may be utilized. Each of the rows 30 extends from the frontsection 22 to the back section 24 of the carton portion 16 and in theembodiment illustrated, each row 30 comprises a plurality of packages P.As illustrated in FIG. 5, each package P contains a plurality of bags B(FIG. 4). Preferably the packages P illustrated in FIG. 5 are formed byenclosing a plurality of bags B ina transparent film so that the design,if any, appearing on the bags B is readily visible to attract theconsumer.

In accordance with this invention, means are provided for maintainingeach pair of rows of packages P in the vertically upstanding position(as illustrated in FIG. 2). These means comprise a resilient dividermember 40. A resilient divider member 40 extends between each pair ofrows 30 and from the front section 22 to the back section 24 of cartonportion 16. It further extends vertically upwardly to the tops 42 ofpackages P. Desirably, the tops 42 of packages P and the upper edges 44of resilient divider member 40 lie in a generally common plane, whichplane is substantially parallel to the bottom 20 of carton 12.

The resilient divider member 40 illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 isdesirably formed of corrugated paperboard approximately one-eighth inchin thickness, and is generally W-shaped. The two outermost legs 46 ofdivider member 40 extend from the bottom 20 of display carton 12upwardly between a pair of rows 30 to the tops 42 of the packages P toprovide the upper edges 44. At their lower edges, legs 46 are integralwith inner legs 50. Each of one of legs 46 and one of inner legs 50 arejoined along fold line 52. Inner legs 50 extend upwardly and inwardlyfrom fold lines 52 to a common fold line intersection 54 at which legs50 are joined. Fold lines 52 and 54 are parallel to each other, and foldlines 52 define the lines along which resilient divider member 40 issupported on bottom section 20 of carton portion 16.

Resilient divider member 40 in a full-open nonresilient position assumesa W-shaped configuration as generally illustrated in FIG. 3. When it isconditioned to the compressed state illustrated in FIG. 2, the inherentresiliency of the corrugated board from which member 40 has been foldedthus provides a spring section at the lower portion. of the member 40which causes the outermost legs 46 to exert an outward resilient forceagainst the adjacent walls of packages P. This then of courseresiliently urges packages P outwardly against side sections 26 ofcarton portion 16, thereby to assist in maintaining the verticalorientation of packages P as illustrated in the drawings. This resilientaction of the divider member 40 assists in maintaining that verticalorientation of the packages P, even after many of the packages have beenremoved by consumers from display carton portion 16.

Preferably, the upper edges 44 of the outermost legs 46 terminate in aplane common with the tops 42 of the packages P. Although packages Phave some column strength against vertical collapse, to assure thatdisplay cartons 12 have sufficient column strength when stacked one uponthe other, the upper edges 44 are positioned to contact the nextadjacent upper carton with the tops 42 of packages P, thereby to providea stable support. That is illustrated generally by the stacked displaycartons 12 of FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, the corrugations of the resilientdivider member 40 are vertically disposed. By so disposing thecorrugations, optimum vertical stacking strength is obtained with thelightest weight corrugated board, in conjunction with the necessaryresiliency.

Preferably, when the divider member 40 is compressed to the conditionillustrated in FIG. 2, the inner legs 50 lie below the uppermost edgesof the cartons front, back an sides. The shorter the legs and the moretightly compressed the divider member, the greater the resiliency of thespring section portion of resilient divider member 40.

It is also to be noted that when using bags B of the characterillustrated in FIG. 4, in packages P such as those of FIG. 5, thethickness of package P may be greater in its lower region than at itstop region because of the additional thickness of the folded bag bottom,although they may be alternately positioned in the package. The formergives greater strength to the package P for resisting collapse whichcould result from the spring force of the resilient member 40.

It is the lower region of the packages in which the spring force isexerted, at which the lower portions of legs 46 bear expansively againstpackages. Minimal or no resilient force is exerted at the tops of thepackages where substantial force would tend to pivot the packages P outof the shallow carton portion 16. It is therefore highly desirable thatthe main spring force provided by resilient member 40 be confined to thearea between the bottom section and peripheral edge 28 of carton portion16. It will be seen that the plane of the tops of the packages P isquite remote from the peripheral edge 28. Preferably the package topsare at least as far from the peripheral edge 28 as peripheral edge 28 isdistant from bottom section 20, and desirably the tops of the packagesare at least twice as distant from the plane of peripheral edge 28 asthe bottom is from that plane.

In FIG, 7, a resilient divider member 60 similar in shape to resilientdivider member 40 is illustrated. In that embodiment, the corrugationsare transversely, rather than vertically oriented. The resilientcharacteristics of divider 60 are substantially the same as those ofdivider 40. However, the stacking strength, because of the direction ofthe corrugations, is not as great with the same weight corrugated board.

In a specific embodiment of this invention, a rectilinear carton isabout 11% inches wide by about 11% inches high by about l3'r inchesdeep. The divider conditioned as illustrated in FIG. 2 is approximately13% inches deep and has outermost legs about 1 1 inches high and innerlegs about 2 inches high. Each package P is about 1 1 inches high byabout 5% inches wide by about inches deep. The tear strip line 14 islocated about 3 inches from the bottom of the carton, therefore exposingabout two-thirds of the full height of the packages P to the consumersview. A carton so proportioned, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, serveswell to support several overlying opened cartons 12 and serves tosubstantially maintain the vertical disposition of the packages P evenafter the majority of the packages P have been removed by consumers froma given uppermost carton. This therefore provides a very attractive,efficient and advantageous display carton for use in retail stores.

What is claimed is:

l. A display carton assembly comprising a carton body having a bottom,and a front, a back and two sides, all terminating above said bottom todefine an upper peripheral edge, at least one pair of side-by-side rowseach comprising a plurality of vertically oriented separate packageswhich are seated on said bottom and which extend upwardly beyond saidupper peripheral edge, each of said rows extending from said front tosaid back of said carton body, resilient divider means between saidrows, said resilient divider means extending from said front to saidback of said carton body and extending upwardly from said carton bodybottom, said resilient divider means including a spring section belowsaid upper peripheral edge for biasing the lower regions of saidpackages toward said sides of said carton body, and wherein saidresilient divider means is corrugated paperboard and is generallyW-shaped, the outermost legs of said W-shaped divider means extendingupwardly to upper edges of said packages.

2. In the display carton of claim 1 in which said packages terminateupwardly in upper edges in a first generally common plane which isgenerally parallel to said bottom and which is substantially above saidupper peripheral edge, and said outermost legs extend upwardly to saidfirst common plane, whereby a second such carton is stably supportableon said upper edges and on the tops of said packages.

3. In the display carton of claim 1 in which said resilient dividermeans includes two inner legs and two outermost legs, said inner legsbeing joined along a first common fold line, and each of one of saidinner legs and one of said outermost legs being joined along a secondcommon fold line lying on said carton body bottom, all of said foldlines being parallel to each other.

4. 1n the display carton of claim 3, in which said first common foldline lies beneath said upper peripheral edge.

5. In the carton of claim 3, in which said upper peripheral edge lies ina second common plane parallel to said carton body bottom.

6. In the display carton of claim 5, in which said second common planeis closer to said bottom than to said first common plane.

7. In the display carton of claim 5, in which said first common plane isat least about twice as far from said second common plane as said bottomis from said second common plane.

* t i k

1. A display carton assembly comprising a carton body having a bottom,and a front, a back and two sides, all terminating above said bottom todefine an upper peripheral edge, at least one pair of side-by-side rowseach comprising a plurality of vertically oriented separate packageswhich are seated on said bottom and which extend upwardly beyond saidupper peripheral edge, each of said rows extending from said front tosaid back of said carton body, resilient divider means between saidrows, said resilient divider means extending from said front to saidback of said carton body and extending upwardly from said carton bodybottom, said resilient divider means including a spring section belowsaid upper peripheral edge for biasing the lower regions of saidpackages toward said sides of said carton body, and wherein saidresilient divider means is corrugated paperboard and is generallyW-shaped, the outermost legs of said W-shaped divider means extendingupwardly to upper edges of said packages.
 2. In the display carton ofclaim 1 in which said packages terminate upwardly in upper edges in afirst generally common plane which is generally parallel to said bottomand which is substantially above said upper peripheral edge, and saidoutermost legs extend upwardly to said first common plane, whereby asecond such carton is stably supportable on said upper edges and on thetops of said packages.
 3. In the display carton of claim 1 in which saidresilient divider means includes two inner legs and two outermost legs,said inner legs being joined along a first common fold line, and each ofone of said inner legs and one of said outermost legs being joined alonga second common fold line lying on said carton body bottom, all of saidfold lines being parallel to each other.
 4. In the display carton ofclaim 3, in which said first common fold line lies beneath said upperperipheral edge.
 5. In the carton of claim 3, in which said upperperipheral edge lies in a second common plane parallel to said cartonbody bottom.
 6. In the display carton of claim 5, in which said secondcommon plane is closer to said bottom than to said first common plane.7. In the display carton of claim 5, in which said first common plane isat least about twice as far from said second common plane as said bottomis from said second common plane.